-LRB- CNN -RRB- It might sound like a Vin Diesel movie , but tennis authorities in Australia are hoping that the FAST4 format , which debuted Monday with an exhibition match between world No. 2 Roger Federer and former Wimbledon and US Open champ Lleyton Hewitt , could `` revolutionize '' the sport .

That contest ended in the Swiss star 's favor , beating his old friend and rival 4-3 2-3 3-4 4-0 4-3 at Sydney 's Qantas Credit Union Arena .

This new version of tennis , which marks some of the most significant rule changes in the sport 's history , consists of the best-of-three sets with quick changeovers and sudden-death playoffs to prevent tiebreaks from dragging on . The first player to four games wins the set .

`` Playing Roger in this new format will be an exciting challenge for both of us and a lot of fun , '' said Hewitt ahead of the match .

`` It 's a fantastic innovation for tennis , and one that I hope will take off . ''

The Australian roadshow will decamp to Melbourne next , with Spanish superstar Rafael Nadal taking on three opponents in separate matches Wednesday .

First he 'll line up against former US Open finalist Mark Philippoussis before taking on current US Open junior champion Omar Jasika , finally playing a best-of-five match against compatriot Fernando Verdasco .

New game , new rules

Billed as tennis ' answer to cricket 's TV-friendly Twenty20 , the two formats share more than just a catchy approach to branding .

Both take a fast-paced approach to sports that , for the uninitiated , could be considered soporific . Cricket traditionally takes five days to play a Test -- international -- match , and men 's singles tennis can last for hours , or in some rare cases , days .

Players will also have to hurry during end-changes , as there are no seating breaks and they get a scant 90 seconds to sit in between sets .

A couple of more fundamental rule changes , including the removal of the service let rule -- that requires a server to retake their service if the ball hits the net cord -- and the removal of the advantage point .

In FAST4 , the receiving player gets to choose which side the serve -- for a sudden death `` power '' point -- is directed to at deuce .

Faster , glitzier tennis

FAST4 promises to provide some of the extravagance and glamor that , the majors aside , some evidently feel is missing from the sport .

Proponents hope that the truncated timeframe -- each set is supposed to last no more than 15 minutes , with games typically not lasting for much longer than an hour -- will allow for a greater number of people to find the time to play tennis .

`` The new format is a game changer and is set to revolutionize the game of tennis , particularly at club and social levels , '' Tennis Australia ' s chief executive officer Craig Tiley said .

`` Time today is precious and this new fast format is perfect for any player who wants to fit their tennis matches into a busy lifestyle . ''

Tennis Australia high performance coach Craig Morris added : `` Our long term objective in creating a product like FAST4 tennis is to attract more people to the sport , and get more people to play tennis .

`` There 's no plan to replace traditional tennis , this is a great complementary product that is entertaining for fans and fun to play . ''

It 's not the only innovation that the sport is toying with .

The International Premier Tennis League , `` the first city-based professional league in the world , played across four countries , '' debuted in November in 2014 .

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New , quicker format debuts in Sydney

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Shorter matches , new time-saving rules and shorter changeover times promise to jazz up the sport